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December 26, 2011

Holy and Unholy Instruments

Christmas is a special time of year for lots of reasons, the least of which is that it provides people with a legitimate reason to dig out the musical instruments that they haven't touched since middle school and play them at church.

Not everyone who played in their 6th grade band, however, is eligible to play their instrument in such a hallowed venue. Based on my observations, only those who had the foresight to take up holy instruments are granted this special privilege.

List of Holy Instruments:1. Harp. The instrument of angels is always welcome in the house of the Lord. 2. Flute. This is the second most holy instrument, based simply on the fact that it is played almost exclusively by prepubescent girls.3. Oboe. Despite connotations with Kenny G, this instrument still makes the list because it looks like a vertical flute.

List of Unholy Instruments:1. Drums. Any instrument that is integral to a rock band is inherently unholy.2. Guitar. See above.3. Trumpet, trombone, saxophone. Any instrument that is typically played by men, or makes sounds loud enough to drown out holy instruments such as the flute is always unholy.

List of Holy Instruments That Should Be Unholy Instruments:1. Recorders. If you have a third grader, you know what I'm talking about.2. People who were members of a show choir during college.

98 comments

That list applies to LDS church, catholic and a few others. Your unholy instruments are the back bone of Lutheran and southern baptist churches. Nothing like a band in church ( I'm LDS, but my extended family all come from the rock band variety church's)

It mattereth not whether Kenny G plays the sax or oboe. His hair is unholy. A missionary couple in our ward just returned from a mission to Africa. During a musical number, the young man who played a medley of missionary songs on the piano broke out into a rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Holy or Unholy?

If it makes you feel any better, the fact that I play the flute and the piano means that my mom calls me a couple weeks before I come home for Christmas and says, "so you're playing (insert musical instrument here) for Christmas Sunday when you get back. I'll show you the song when you get home."

umm pretty sure the trumpet is THE HOLIEST instrument ;) Seriously think about how often it is referenced in the bible. That being said if they're drowning out other instruments/vocalists they make these lovely little things called mutes to tone them down. My husband is a trumpeter what can I say? Besides I don't think Joy to the World is the same without it! :D

I had a professor in college who played every sax there was and played them incredibly well. Whenever he was new to a ward he said he'd approach the music chair and let them know he played saxophone. They would get uncomfortable and say thanks, but the bishop wouldn't approve, blah blah blah. He'd say something along the lines of, there's no instrument that can't make music the Lord would want to hear, there are only people who do that. From there on out he was often asked to play.

Unless you attend one of the wards in Salt Lake where several of the apostles attend, on Christmas they have a mini orchestra and perform part of the Messiah for their Christmas sacrament meeting- no joke.

Last year one of the parents got everyone in my daughter's kindergarten class whistles. Who give kindergarteners whistles?? This year I was feeling especially evil and I almost bought every first grader in my daughters class recorders as a stocking stuffer. I didn't I was talked out of it but I might next year.

As a harpist, I have always loved Garrison Keillor's "Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra", in which he concludes that the timpani and the harp are the only appropriate orchestral instruments for a Lutheran. This post reminded me of that. That looks like Orlando harpist, Jan jennings. Link up to her site!

I am a new person in singing.I think you want to say that those instrument which voice are getting from its originality are known as holy instruments.These instruments are helpful to understand the feelings of the people.What you say about my opinion?

Mmmm. I play flute AND trombone (not at the same time). I don't see how the oboe--a wooden, double reed instrument--looks like a vertical flute. It looks more like a clarinet.Trumpets are usually considered somewhat holy..."Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Joy To The World"--the melody is usually trumpets.How can you have Little Drummer Boy without drums?I don't think recorders played by anyone under 21 can even be considered an instrument, especially if it was bought at Wal-Mart or the dollar store.

As a mother of kids that play multiple unholy instruments (drums, saxophone, and electric guitar...they could at least form a band and make money), I agree, however the "members of a show choir during college" is just hysterically true! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. I live in Tampa and so relate to all your escapades as a new Floridian. You're one of my all time favorite bloggers. Happy New Year!

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